Adjustable refrigerator shelf



March 9, 1965 Filed Feb. 14, 1963 P. F. POWDER ADJUSTABLE REFRIGERATOR SHELF 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PAUL E POWDER ATTORWE March 9, 1965 P. F. POWDER ADJUSTABLE REFRIGERATOR SHELF 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1963 INVENTOR. PAUL E POWDER ATTOFN March 9, 1965 P. F. POWDER ADJUSTABLE REFRIGERATOR SHELF 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 14, 1965 A TTORNE Y Juli March 9, 1965 P. F. POWDER ADJUSTABLE REFRIGERATOR SHELF 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 14, 1963 Fzlq.17

INVENTOR. PAUl E POWDER ATTORNEY 3,172,715 ADJUSTABLE REFRIGERATOR SHELF Paul F. Powder, Southfielrl, Mich, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 258,567 9 Claims. ((31. 312-298) This invention relates to refrigerators and particularly to means supporting a shelf in a chamber thereof for vertical adjustment therein.

An object of my invention is to provide a unique and improved leverage device for altering the height of a shelf within a chamber of a referigerator cabinet which can be easily operated by a housewife or user of the cabinet irrespective of the weight of food products supported on the shelf at a time when its height is desired to be changed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shelf supporting means within a refrigerator cabinet including a hand lever operable for adjusting the shelf upwardly and/ or downwardly therein without manually holding the shelf against vertical movement during adjustment thereof and without requiring application of manual force directly thereto for raising same.

A further object of my invention is to provide a shelf supporting means with a leverage mechanism wherein the lever thereof is movable in a plurality of directions for adjusting the height of a shelf within a chamber of a cabinet and which mechanism is capable of locking the shelf against vertical movement in the chamber independently of the lever so that the lever will have a predetermined normal or initial freely operable position from where it may be moved to raise or lower the shelf.

A still further and more specific object of my invention is to provide an adjustable shelf supporting means operable by a hand lever, an end of which is swingable from a predetermined normal or start position in a plurality of directions along lines depicting a parallelogram for effecting selective adjustment of a shelf upwardly and/ or downwardly and to which position the lever is returnable to relieve the shelf of support thereby and to return it support to an element in the means that locks the shelf against vertical movement and simultaneously frees the lever for swinging movement to again unlock the shelf when adjustment thereof is desired.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a refrigerator cabinet with its chamber door open showing shelves within the chamber supported for vertical adjustment therein by an improved supporting means constructed according to my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1 illustrating a shelf supported in the refrigerator chamber for rotation outwardly thereof while supported therein;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of a shelf adjusting support constructed in accordance with my invention taken in the direction of the arrow 3 in FIG- URE 2 showing a shelf in section on a hinge part of the supporting means;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top view of the adjustable shelf support taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a side of the adjustable shelf support disclosed in FIG- URES 3 and 4;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3 of the adjustable shelf support c r C means with movable components thereof associated with a rack and shown in an intermediate moved position;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 6 taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3 with movable components of the shelf supporting means associatedwith a rack and moved relative thereto into a positionto ready the shelf for adjustment along the rack by a lever of the means;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 6 showing a hinge part of the adjustable support to which the shelf is secured for rotation relative thereto;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of a pawl employed in the shelf support means;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view of the pawl taken on the line 1010 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 1111 of FIGURE 6 showing a lever of the adjustable shelf support means in a predetermined normal position with a movable pawl of the means associated with teeth on a guide rack to lock the shelf against vertical movement relative to the rack;

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 taken on the line 1212 of FIGURE 7 showing the lever of the shelf support means moved vertically downwardly with a tooth-like projection on the lever shifted along teeth of the guide to lower the shelf supporting housing of the means;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1313 of FIGURE 11 showing the lever of the means in phantom located at a predetermined normal position;

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 with the locking pawl of the support slid out of engagement with the rack teeth and with a tooth-like projection on the lever shifted into engagement between the rack teeth by a first horizontal swinging movement of the lever;

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to FIGURES 13' and 14 showing the shelf support moved downwardly relative to the supporting rack by a vertical downward swinging movement of the lever;

FIGURE 16 is a view similar to FIGURES 13, 14 and 15 showing the pawl reslid back into engagement between teeth of the rack and the tooth-like projection on the lever reshifted out of engagement therewith by a reverse horizontal swinging movement of the lever to efiect relocking of the shelf support to the rack by the pawl; and

FIGURE 17 is substantially a duplicate view of FIG- URE 13 illustrating the lever swung vertically upward from its position shown in FIGURE 16 to return same to its predetermined normal or start position of operation.

Referring to the drawings, for illustrating my invention, I show in FIGURE 1 thereof a refrigerator cabinet 11) including suitably insulated walls 11 defining a food storage chamber 12 therein. Chamber 12 is cooled by a refrigerant evaporator, located at the top of the chamber behind a concealing panel or movable cover 14, of a refrigerating system associated with the cabinet. Such refrigerators are conventional and well known thus requiring no detailed description thereof herein. Food storage chamber 12 has a front access opening normally closed by a door 16 mounted on the cabinet 10 by hinges 17 (see FIGURE 2) for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto. Chamber 12 contains several spacedapart shelves 18 which are preferably reticulated for air circulation therethrough. and a means of my invention, generally represented at 21 supporting each shelf for vertical adjustment within the chamber. A shelf supporting means 20 comprises or includes an upright guide rack 21 in chamber 12 provided with a vertical row of individual or separate spaced-apart teeth 22 thereon (see FIGURES 3, 4 and 5). Rack 21 is rigidly secured, by

suitable screws or bolts, to an upright side wall 11 of chamber 12 at a front corner thereof adjacent its access opening and extends from a point adjacent the uppermost shelf 18 continuously to a point at or close to the bottom wall of chamber 12. Rack 21 has integral side ears or extensions 23 providing guide means on the rack (see A IGURES 6 and 7). Jaws 24 formed on a housing 25 of means 2%) embrace the, ears 23 to movably mount the housing on rack 21 for vertical guiding movement therealong. Housing 25 has a substantially U-shaped hinge member 26 pivoted thereto by a shaft or stud 27 which is keyed or locked to the housing by a set screw or the like 28 (see FIGURES 3, 4 and 6). The upper leg of U-shaped member 26 forms the mounting of shelf 18 to housing 25 and one corner of the shelf is secured to the hinge member by a plate 29 and suitable screws or bolts. Shelf 18 is therefore anchored to or rotatably carried by housing 25 for vertical movement therewith and for rotation relative thereto. The pivotal mounting of binge member 26 and shelf 18 secured thereto permits rotation of the shelf outwardly of the front access opening of chamber 12 when cabinet door 1% is opened as is a conventional feature of such shelf arrangements. Housing 25 is provided with a plurality of hollowed-out portions for receiving parts of other components of the adjustable shelf mechanism, supporting means or device. For example, a hand operable lever 39 within a hollowed-out part of housing 25 has a connection thereto intermediate its short or one end 32 and its long or other end 33 extending out of the housing. Lever 3G is provided with a tooth-like projection 31 on a head portion thereof at its short end 32 and this tooth projection is adapted to engage betweenteeth 22 of rack 21. The connection of lever 3% with housing 25 includes a collar 34 (see FIG- URES 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12) surrounding a part of the lever intermediate ends thereof disposed in a hollowed-out portion of the housing. Lever 38 is attached to collar 34- for horizontal swinging movement relative to housing 25 by a pin or stud 36 extended vertically through a hole in the lever and which is threaded into the lower wall of the collar. Collar 34 is attached at each of its sides to housing 25 to permit vertical swingingmovernent of lever 3i? relative to the housing by opposed pins or studs 37 threaded into the housing. This connection is somewhat similar to a universal joint in that it affords opposite pivotal swinging movements of lever 30 in a plurality of directions with respect to housing 25. The connecting arrangement of lever 39 to housing 25 is such that swinging movements of the lever are preferably along lines simulating or depicting a parallelogram as will be hereinafter described.

Tooth-like projection 31 on the one or short end 32 of lever 30 is adapted to alternately engage and disengage between teeth 22 on rack 21 and the head portion of thisone end 32 of the lever is fitted within a notch 38 (see FIGURES 9 and 10) provided in one long side of a pawl 39 for free vertical movement therein relative to the pawl and housing 25. The notch 38 of pawl 39 straddles end 32 of lever 30 and the pawl is slidably mounted within a horizontal slot d1 provided therefor in housing 25. The pawl is also notched out as at 42 (see FIGURE 9) and is provided with a tooth portion 43 (see FIG- URES 9 and 10) adjacent one side of notch 42. Pawl 39 is slidably retained in slot 41 between a wall thereof and the inner edge portion of rack 21 and by walls of notch 38 straddling a portion of end 32 of lever 5d. Tooth portion 43 and notch 42 of pawl 39 are each adapted to be alternately aligned vertically with teeth 22 on rack 21 so that tooth portion 43 may engage and disengage, between the rack teeth below teeth thereon between which tooth-like projection 31 on end 32 of lever 30 registers. In other words, the projection 31 and tooth portion 43 of pawl 39 are at all times horizontally spaced apart and disposed in different vertical planes. The lower end 47 of pin or stud 36 depends from collar 34 17 of the drawings.

and has an end of a spring 49 attached thereto with the other end of spring 49 anchored to a pin 48 threaded into housing 25 (see FIGURES 11 and 12). Since shelf 18 is normally locked to rack 21 against vertical movement therealong by pawl 3's? within housing 25 the sole purpose of spring 49 is to counterbalance lever 34'! and to hold the end 33 thereof upwardly in a predetermined normal or start position of operation after same has been moved to such position. The other or long end 32 of lever. 30 extending out of housing 25 is preferably disposed beneath the front edge of shelf 18 in the normal or start position of the lever (see FIGURES 1 and 2) in which position thereof tooth portion 43 of pawl 39 is vertically aligned with and engages between teeth 22 on rack 21 while tooth-like projection 31 on the lever is out of vertical alignment with the rack teeth. In order to indicate swinging movements of lever 34 in a plurality of directions, depicting a parallelogram, and to'facilitate the description thereof with reference to FIGURES 13 to 17 of the drawings for adjusting or changing the height of a shelf 18 upwardly and/or downwardly along rack 21 Within chamber 12, I show in these figures a phantom illustration of end 33 of the lever connected to the toothlike projection 31 on end 32 thereof. As before stated, the other or long end 33 of lever 39 is adapted to be swung in somewhat of a parallelogram fashion during operation thereof to effect alternate engagement and disengagement of pawl 39 and tooth projection 31 on the lever between teeth 22 on rack 21. Also, rack 21 is herein illustrated as having an integral upper stop end 51 thereon with housing 25 abutting same and this stop is utilized herein primarily for the purpose of clearly showing a lowered adjustment of the housing and shelf relative thereto within chamber 12. End 51 of rack 21 preferably is flared outwardly at its side so as to overlie the ear extensions 23 on the rack (see FIGURES 3, 4 and 12) to form an etfective stop for the top of housing 25. It is to be understood that the shelf may be adjusted either upwardly or downwardly along rack 21 when housing 25 is at any location on the rack spaced a considerable distance below its stop end 51. Before proceeding with a description of operation of lever 31) for raising or lowering shelf 18 within chamber 12, it is to be emphasized that this lever is desired to at all times be in its normal or start position (see FIGURES l to 5 and FIGURES 13 and 17) and is initially moved or swung in different or opposite directions depending upon whether the shelf is to be raised or lowered.

For the purpose of describing operations of adjusting the height of a shelf vertically along the rack within chamber 12 of refrigerator 19, it is to be assumed that housing 25 is in abutment with stop end 51 of rack 21 with tooth projection 43 of pawl 39 engaging between rack teeth 22 as shown in FIGURES 1 to 5 and 13 and In this position of housing 25 and shelf 13 carried thereby they are locked against vertical movement in chamber 12 on rack 21 and the lever 3% is in its predetermined normal or start position of operation. After opening cabinet door 16 and desiring to change the height of upper shelf 18 in chamber 12 such, for example, as by lowering the shelf, as distinguished from a desire to raise tnis upper shelf the long or other end 33 of lever 33 is grasped by a hand of an operator and swung horizontally in a first direction outwardly of chamber 12 andshelf 1% about its connection, stud or pin 36, with housing 25 (see FIGURE 6 wherein an initial swinging of the lever is illustrated). Continued swinging of lever 36 within and relative to housing 25 in this first horizontal direction slides tooth portion 43 on pawl 32, by virtue of its notch 33 straddling the short or one end 33 of lever 32 horizontally within housing slot sl away from teeth 22 on rack 21 and substantially simultaneously shifts tooth projection 31. on the lever horizontally toward and into engagement between the rack teeth (see FIGURES 7, l1 and 14). It is to be noted that notch 42 in pawl 39 is, by this first horizontal operation of lever 30, in vertical alignment with teeth 22 on rack 21 to clear same and the lever is now readied for a vertical swinging movement within notch 38 in pawl 39 to effect movement of housing 25, by the lever connection therewith, and consequently shelf 18 carried thereby downwardly along rack 21. The long or other end 33 or" lever 36 is therefore swingable, while the tooth projection 31 engages between the rack teeth 22 (see FIGURES 12 and 14), in a second direction vertically downward and its connection, studs or pins 37, with housing 25 shifts the housing and shelf 18 thereon downwardly along rack 21 away from its upper stop end 51 (see FIGURES 12 and 15). Downward swinging of lever 33 is limited by a portion of its long or other end 33 striking a wall of the hollowed-out part of housing 25 (see FIGURE 12). This second operation of lever 30 changes the height of shelf 18 within chamber 12 by lowering same one tooth along rack 21 and aligns pawl 39 with the space between the next lower teeth 22 on the rack (see FIGURES 12 and 15). The end 33 of lever 30 is then reversely swung horizontally inwardly toward chamber 12 beneath shelf 18 (see FIGURE 16) to cause tooth projection 31 on the lever to reshift away from and out of engagement between the rack teeth 22 and to also cause the tooth portion 43 on pawl 33 to be simultaneously reslid between the lower rack teeth 22. This third operation of the lever again eifects a locking of housing on rack 21 by pawl 39 against vertical movement with respect thereto whereby the shelf on the housing is lockingly supported on the rack within chamber 12. after being lowered therein. End 33 of lever is thereafter reversely swung vertically upward (see FIG- URE 17), from the position thereof shown in FIGURE 16 of the drawings, and this fourth operation of the lever returns same to its predetermined normal or start position as is illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5, 11 and 13 with spring 4? biasing the lever in such position.

The foregoing described four swinging operations of lever 30 may be successively repeated in order to decrease the height of shelf 18 in chamber 12 any desired amount. In the present disclosure the distance between teeth 22 on rack 21 is approximately one-fourth inch, and the four swinging movements or operations of lever 30, throughout substantially a parallelogram, therefore lowers shelf 18 by an increment of an inch. However, the distance between the rack teeth 22 and the distance intermediate tooth projection 31 on lever end 32 and pawl 39 is of no importance to my invention since such distances may be equally increased, if desired, to provide for greater movements of shelf 18 vertically along rack 21 within chamber 12 by the four swinging motions of lever 30. While I have described the manner in which the upper shelf 18 is lowered away from stop end 51 of rack 21 and depicted same in illustrative figures in the drawings, it is to be understood that elevation of housing 25 along the rack 2-1 and increased heights of a shelf 18 within chamber 12 can be carried out by my shelf adjusting support means when the housing is at any height on the rack spaced below its top stop end 51.

Assume that a shelf 18 is desired to be adjusted within chamber 12 such as by increasing its elevation therein. The long or other end 33 of lever 30 has an initial swinging movement to elevate a shelf 18 which is difierent from the initial movement of the lever for instituting lowering of the shelf in the chamber. Thus, to raise a shelf 18 in chamber 12, long end 32 of lever 30, while in its start or predetermined normal position with pawl 39 locking housing 25 on rack 21 (see FIGURES 13 and 17), is grasped by a hand of an operator and swung in a first direction vertically downwardly (see FIGURES 12 and 16). This first swinging operation of lever 36 shifts tooth-like projection 31 thereon, which is now out of engagement with the rack teeth (see FIGURE 16), upwardly into horizontal alignment between teeth 22 on rack 21, above the space intermediate teeth with which the tooth-like projection was formerly horizontally aligned (see FIGURES 13 and 17). End 33 of the lever is also swung in a second direction horizontally outwardly with respect to chamber 12 (see FIGURE 14). This second lever operation simultaneously shifts tooth-like projection 31 thereon laterally into engagement between the rack teeth 22 and tooth portion 43 on pawl 39 out of engagement therewith (see FIGURES 7 and 12). Housing 25 and consequently the shelf 18 carried thereby are now supported upon rack 21 by tooth projection 31 on lever 30 and the end 33 of the lever is then swung vertically upward whereby the leverage advantage provided thereby readily elevates the housing and shelf 18 by this third lever operation within chamber 12. End 33 of lever 30 is thereafter reversely swung horizontally back into its predetermined normal or start position (see FIGURES 1 to 5 and FIGURES 13 and 17). The fourth operation of lever 30 is carried out while tooth projection 31 thereon supports the weight of shelf 18. This fourth operation reslides tooth portion 43 on pawl 39 back into engagement between teeth 22 of rack 21, to thereby again lock housing 25 on the rack to support shelf 18 against vertical movement relative to rack 21, and reshifts tooth-like projection 31 on end 32 of the lever out of engagement with the rack teeth. While the directions of swinging end 33 of lever 30 to change or elevate the height of shelf 13 within chamber 12 are different or opposite those employed to lower the shelf, either movement of the lever is nevertheless in a parallelogram fashion.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that I have provided an improved adjustable shelf supporting means for shelves in refrigerator cabinets which is capable of being easily operated by one hand of an operator without danger of a shelf, while being adjusted, dropping along its support if not firmly held by the other hand of the operator. Thus, a housewife upion approaching an opened chamber of a refrigerator cabinet with a dish or container in one of her hands and desiring to change the height of a shelf in the chamber may do so by manipulating the lever of the adjustable support mechanism by her other hand without first removing the dish or container from her one hand. The shelves within the chamber may be adjusted vertically upwardly and/or downwardly therein selectively to thereby increase versatility of storage of food products in the chamber. My invention provides a leverage advantage during the act of changing the height of a shelf, particularly during elevation thereof with food products supported thereon. Adjustments .or" a shelf are carried out 'slowly whereby sudden impacts thereto, which would jar dishes or receptaclesotf same, are eliminated. The arrangement of my adjustable shelf supporting means or mechanism is such that it occupies a minimum of space in a chamber and is readily accessible at the front thereof for operation when the refrigerator cabinet door is opened.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A cabinet including walls defining a chamber therein containing a shelf and means supporting the shelf for vertical adjustment within said chamber comprising:

(a) an upright guide rack in the chamber provided with a vertical row of individual spaced-apart teeth thereon,

(b) a housing mounted on said rack for guiding movement therealong,

(c) said shelf 'being anchored to and movable with said housing,

(d) a lever connected intermediate one end thereof and its other end to said housing,

(2) the connection of said lever to said housing afford- '3 ing opposite pivotal swinging movements of the lever in a plurality of directions relative to the housing,

(f) a tooth-like projection on said one end of said lever adapted to engage between said rack teeth,

(5*) a pawl slidably mounted in said housing also adapted to engage between said rack teeth and to be actuated by said lever,

(71) said lever having a predetermined normal position in which said tooth-like projection thereon is out of engagement with said hack teeth and said pawl is in engagement therebetween to lock said housing on said guide rack against vertical movement therealong,

(i) said lever being movable with respect to said pawl while same is locking the housing on said rack,

(j) said other end of said lever being swingable in a first direction about its connection with said housing to slide said pawl out of engagement with said rack teeth and to simultaneously shift said tooth-like projection on said one end of the lever into engagement between the rack teeth,

(k) said other end or" said lever also being swingable in a second direction about its connection with said housing when said tooth-like projection engages between said racl: teeth to move the housing along said rack and change the height of said shelf within said chamber, and

(I) said other end of said lever being reversely swingable in said first direction to reshift said tooth-like projection out of engagement with said rack teeth and to simultaneously reslide said pawl between said rack teeth for thereafter relccking said housing upon said rack to support said shelf at said changed height.

2. A cabinet including walls defining a chamber therein containing a shelf and means supporting the shelf for vertical adjustment within said chambe;- comprising:

(a) an upright guide rack in the chamber provided with a vertical row of individual spaced-apart teeth thereon,

(b) a housing mounted on said rack for guiding movement therealong,

(c) said shelf being anchored to and movable with said housing,

(d) a lever connected intermediate one end thereof and its other end to said housing,

(a) the connection of said lever to said housing affording opposite pivotal swinging movements of the lever in a plurality of directions relative to the housing,

(f) a tooth-like projection on said one end of said lever adapted to engage between said rack teeth,

(g) a pawl slidaoly mounted in said housing alsio adapted to engage between said rack teeth and to be actuated by said lever,

(h) said lever having a predetermined normal position in which said tooth-like projection thereon is out of engagement with said rack teeth and said pawl is in engagement therebetween to lock said housing on said guide rack against vertical movement therealong,

(i) said leve being movable with respect to said pawl while same is locking the housing on said rack,

(j) said other end of said lever being swingable horizontally about its connection with said housing to slide said pawl out of engagement with said rack teeth and to simultaneously shift said tooth-like projection on said one end of the lever into engagement between the rack teeth, l

(k) said other end of said lever also being swing-able vertically about its connection with said housing while said tooth-like projection engages between said rack teeth to move the housing along said rack and adjust the height of said shelf within said chamber, and

(I) said other end of said lever being reversely swingable horizontally to reshift said tooth-like projection out of engagement with said rack teeth and to simultaneously reslide said pawl between said rack in containing a shelf and means supporting the shelf for vertical adjustment within said chamber comprising:

(a) an upright guide rack in the chamber provided with a vertical row of individual spaced-apart teeth thereon,

(b) a housing mounted on said rack for guiding movement therealong,

(c)said shelf being anchored to and movable with said housing,

(11) a lever connected intermediate one end thereof and its other end to said housing,

(2) the connection of said lever to said housing affording opposite pivotal swinging movements of the lever in a plurality of directions relative to the hous- (1) a tooth-like projection on said one end of said lever adapted to engage between said rack teeth, (g) a pawl slidably mounted in said housing also adapted to engage between said rack teeth and to be actuated by said lever,

(it) said lever having a predetermined normal position in which said tooth-like projection thereon is out of engagement with said rack teeth and said pawl is in engagement therebetween to lock said housing on said guide rack against vertical movement therealong,

(i) said lever being movable with respect to said pawl while same is locking the housing on said rack,

(j) said other end of said lever being swingable in a horizontal direction about its connection with said housing to slide said pawl out of engagement with said rack teeth and to simultaneously shift said toothlike projection on said one end of the lever into engagement between the rack teeth.

(k) said other end of said lever also being swingable downward in a vertical direction about its connection with said housing while said tooth-like projection engages between said rack teeth to lower the housing along said rack and decrease the height of said shelf within said chamber,

(1) said other end of said lever then being reswingable in said horizontal direction to reshift said tooth-like projection out of engagement with said rack teeth and to simultaneously reslide said pawl between said rack teeth for again locking said housing upon said rack to support said shelf at said decreased height, and

(in) said other end of said lever thereafter being reswingable upward in said vertical direction for returning the lever to its said predetermined normal position.

4. A cabinet including walls defining a chamber therein containing a shelf and means supporting the shelf for vertical adjustment within said chamber comprising:

(a) an upright guide rack in the chamber provided with a vertical row of individual spaced-apart teeth thereon,

(b) a housing mounted on said rack for guiding move- (it) said lever having a predetermined normal position in which said tooth-like projection thereon is out of engagement with said rack teeth and said pawl is in engagement therebetween to lock said housing on said guide rack against vertical movement therealong,

(1') said lever being movable with respect to said pawl while same is locking the housing on said rack,

(j) said other end of the lever being swingable downward in a vertical direction from said predetermined normal position of said lever and thence in a horitween said rack teeth to move the housing along said rack and change the height of said shelf within said chamber, and

(I) said other end of said lever being reversely swingable in said first direction to reshift said tooth-like projection out of engagement with said rack teeth and to simultaneously reslide said pawl between said rack teeth for thereafter relocking said housing upon said rack to support said shelf at said changed height.

6. A refrigerator cabinet including walls defining a zontal direction about its connection with said housing to slide said pawl out of engagement with said rack teeth and to simultaneously shift said toothchamber therein having a front access opening containing a shelf and means supporting the shelf for vertical adjustment within said chamber comprising:

along,

(1) said pawl having a portion thereof straddling said one end of the lever whereby said lever is movable vertically relative to the pawl while same is locking like projection on said one end of the lever into en- (a) a guide rack secured to an upright wall of aid gagement between the rack teeth, chamber adjacent the opening therein provided with (k) said other end of said lever also being swingable a Vertical row of individual spaced-apart teeth upward in said vertical direction about its connection thereon, with said housing while said tooth-like projection (b) a housing mounted on said rack for guiding moveengages between said rack teeth to elevate the housment therealong, ing along said rack and increase the height of said Sflld lf being anchored to said housing for moveshelf within said chamber, and ment therewith and for rotation relative thereto out- (I) said other end of said lever thereafter being re- Ward of said chamber through the access opening swingable in said horizontal direction to reshift said thereof, tooth-like projection out of engagement with said (d alever connected intermediate one end thereof and rack teeth, to simultaneously reslide said pawl be- Its other end to said housing, tween the rack teeth for again locking said housing (8? the connection of said lever to said housing afiordupon said rack to support said shelf at said increased g Opposite pivotal Swinging movements of h lever height and to return the lever to its said predeter- 111 p ty of directions w respect t0 the housing, mined normal position. (f) a tooth-like pro ection on said one end of said lever 5. A refrigerator cabinet including walls defining a adapted to between salfi l math, chamber therein having a front access opening contain- (g) a pawl Shdably mounted H d housing also ing a shelf and means supporting the shelf for vertical adapted to engage between a d rack teeth and to be adjustment within said chamber comprising: r h by fi l (a) a guide rack secured to an upright wall of said 30 Sal ever avmg l? P chamber adjacent the opening therein provided with gigggi eii lvggl gg'ig fagli figlg gng ifign 1S flJut of 1 paw 1s m gnvertical row of individual spaced apart teeth there igfgeligent tllgerebetvtveentitollock said 32min? on sai gm erac agains ver ica movemen erea ong, 2 3 g ggg g g on sald rack for guldmg move (i) said pawl having a portion thereof straddling said (c) said shelf being anchored to said housing for one end of the lever whereby said lever is movable movement therewith and for rotation relative thereg ii g g g gl l gai g r ifk Whlle same 15 IOCklIJg a i g t l i ci f Said chambvr through the access open (i) t u i i qt f said lever be irtllg swingable horizon a y a on 1 s connec Ion wit sai housing to i z z gf 232%? 2 55 32335; one end thereof 40 slide said pawl out of engagement with said raclt teeth (8) the connection of Said Lever to said housing and to simultaneously sh1ftsa1dtooth-l1ke pro ection fording opposite pivotal swinging movements of the ,fg ig g ig of the lever into engagement between lieg gghirgia plurality of dlrections with respect to the 3 i of aid Ever Z1180 lzielfilg swingable ver ica y a cm 1 s connectlon Wl sai ousing while 0 ieierlfii pi ii ti ifg lgl bifiviii siil 1321? iii? saldhmothtlke Prawn engages Petween said a (g) a pawl slidably mounted in said housing also fif gf h housmgalimg i rack and adlust adapted to engage between said rack teeth and to l e .5 of Bald Shelf Wxthm i chamber be actuated by said lever, slalhother end of said levenbeing reversely swing- (Iz) said lever having a predetermined normal posifonzontany to i i Said tooth'hke projeptwn tion in which said tooth-like projection thereon is i 0 E a m W said rack teeth i to slmul' out of engagement with said rack teeth and said pawl z g y f paw} betwefsn Smd k teeth is in engagement therebetween to lock said housing t r great 25 2 mg f hqusmg 1 9 Sald k on said guide rack against vertical movement there- 0 Supper Sal s e f at sald adjusted helght- 7. A refrigerator cabinet including walls defining a chamber therein having a front access opening containing a shelf and means supporting the shelf for vertical adjustment within said chamber comprising:

aid housing on said rack, (a) a guide rack secured to an upright wall of said (j) said other end of said lever being swingable in a Chamber adjacent the opening therein provided with first direction about its connection with said housa vertical row of individual spaced-apart teeth ing to slide said pawl out of engagement with said thereon,

rack teeth and to simultaneously shift said tooth- (b) ahousing mounted on said rack for guiding movelike projection on said one end of the lever into engagement between the rack teeth,

(k) said other end of said lever also being swingable in a second direction about its connection with said housing when said tooth-like projection engages bement therealong,

(c) said shelf being anchored to said housing for move ment therewith and for rotation relative thereto out ward of said chamber through the access opening thereof,

(d) a lever connected intermediate one end thereof and its other end to said housing,

(2) the connection of said lever to said housing affording opposite pivotal swinging movements of the lever in a plurality of directions with respect to the housing,

(1) a tooth-like projection on said one end of said lever adapted to engage between said rack teeth,

(g) a pawl slidably mounted in said housing also adapted to engage between said rack teeth and to be actuated by said lever, a

(it) said lever having a predetermined normal position in which said tooth-like projection thereon is out of engagement with said rack teeth and said pawl is in engagement therebetween to lock said housing on said guide rack against vertical movement therealong,

(i) said pawl having a portion thereof straddling said one end of the lever whereby said lever is movable vertically relative to the pawl while same is locking said housing on said rack,

(j) said other end of said lever being swingable in a horizontal direction about its connection with said housing to slide said pawl out of engagement with said rack teeth and to simultaneously shift said toothlike projection on said one end of the lever into engagement between the rack teeth,

(k) said other end of said lever also being swingable downward in a vertical direction about its connect-ion with said housing while said tooth-like projection engages between said rack teeth to lower the housing along said rack and decrease the height of said shelf within said chamber,

(1) said other end of said lever then being reswingable in said horizontal direction to reshift said tooth-like projection out of engagement with said rack teeth and to simultaneously reslide said pawl between said rack teeth for again locking said housing upon said rack to support said shelf at said decreased height, and

(m) said other end of said lever thereafter being reswingable upward in said vertical direction for return ing the lever to its said predetermined normal position.

8. A refrigerator cabinet including walls defining a chamber therein having a front access opening containing a shelf and means supporting the shelf for vertical adjustment within said chamber comprising:

(a) a guide rack secured to an upright wall of said chamber adjacent the opening therein provided with a vertical row of individual spaced-apart teeth thereon,

(b) a housing mounted on said rack for guiding movement therealong,

(c) said shelf being anchored to said housing for movement therewith and for rotation relative thereto outward of said chamber through the access opening thereof,

(d) a lever connected intermediate one end thereof and its other end to said housing,

(e) the connection of said lever to said housing affording opposite pivotal swinging movements of the lever in a plurality of directions with respect to the housing,

(f) a tooth-like projection on said one end of said lever adapted to engage between said rack teeth,

(g) a pawl slidably mounted in said housing also adapted to engage between said rack teeth and to be actuated by said lever,

(11) said lever having a predetermined normal position in which said tooth-like projection thereon is out of engagement with said rack teeth and said pawl is in engagement therebetween to lock said housing on said guide rack against vertical movement therealong,

(i) said pawl having a portion thereof straddling said one end of the lever whereby said lever is movable i 2 vertically relative to the pawl while same is locking said housing on said rack,

(j) said other end of the lever being swingable downward in a vertical direction from said predetermined normal position of said lever and thence in a horizontal direction about its connection with said housing to slide said pawl out of engagement with said rack teeth and to simultaneously shift said tooth-like projection on sm'd one end of the lever into engagement between the rack teeth,

(Jr) said other end of said lever aiso being swingable upward in said vertical direction about its connection With said housing while said tooth-like projection engages between said rack teeth to elevate the housing along said rack and increase the height of said shelf within said chamber, and

(.1) said other end of said lever thereafter being reswingable in said horizontal direction to reshift said tooth-like projection out of engagement with said rack teeth, to simultaneously reslide said pawl between the rack teeth for again locking said housing upon said rack to support said shelf at said increased height and to return the lever to its said predetermined normal position.

9. A cabinet including walls defining a chamber therein containing a shelf and means supporting the shelf for vertical adjustment within said chamber comprising:

(a) an upright guide rack in the chamber provided with a vertical row of individual spaced-apart teeth there- (b) a housing mounted on said rack for guiding movement therealong,

(c) said shelf being anchored to and movable with said housing,

(d) a lever connected intermediate one end thereof and its other end to said housing,

(e) the connection of said lever to said housing affording swinging movements of the lever relative thereto along lines depicting a parallelogram,

(f) a tooth-like projection on said one end of said lever adapted to engage between said rack teeth,

(g) a pawl slidably mounted in said housing also adapted to engage between said rack teeth and to be actuated by said lever,

(h) said lever having a predetermined normal position in which said tooth-like projection thereon is out of engagement with said rack teeth and said pawl is n engagement therebetween to lock said housing on said guide rack against vertical movement therealong,

(i) said lever being movable with respect to said pawl while same locks the housing on said rack, and

(j) said other end of said lever being swingable about the connection thereof with said housing out of its predetermined normal position in a plurality of directions throughout saidparallelogram to first slide said pawl out of engagement with said rack teeth and simultaneously shift said tooth-like projection on the lever into engagement therebetween, to then move the housing along said rack while said tooth-like projection engages between said teeth for changing the height of said shelf within said chamber, to thereafter reshift said tooth-like projection on the lever out of engagement with said rack teeth and simultaneously reslide said pawl between said rack teeth and to finally return said lever to said predetermined normal position thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 661,501 Dierig, et al Nov. 13, 1900 3,063,775 Snowman .d Nov. 13, 1962 

1. A CABINET INCLUDING WALLS DEFINING A CHAMBER THEREIN CONTAINING A SHELF AND MEANS SUPPORTING THE SHELF FOR VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT WITHIN SAID CHAMBER COMPRISING: (A) AN UPRIGHT GUIDE RACK IN THE CHAMBER PROVIDED WITH A VERTICAL ROW OF INDIVIDUAL SPACE-APART TEETH THEREON, (B) A HOUSING MOUNTED ON SAID RACK FOR GUIDING MOVEMENT THEREALONG, (C) SAID SHELF BEING ANCHORED TO AND MOVABLE WITH SAID HOUSING, (D) A LEVEL CONNECTED INTERMEDIATE ONE END THEREOF AND ITS OTHER END OF SAID HOUSING, (E) THE CONNECTION OF SAID LEVER TO SAID HOUSING AFFORDING OPPOSITE PIVOTAL SWINGING MOVEMENTS OF THE LEVER IN A PLURALITY OF DIRECTIONS RELATIVE TO THE HOUSING, (F) A TOOTH-LIKE PROJECTION ON SAID ONE END OF SAID LEVER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE BETWEEN SAID RACK TEETH, (G) A PAWL SLIDANLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING ALSO ADAPTED TO ENGAGE BETWEEN SAID RACK TEETH AND TO BE ACTUATED BY SAID LEVER, (H) SAID LEVER HAVING A PREDETERMINED NORMAL POSITION IN WHICH SAID TOOTH-LIKE PROJECTION THEREON IS OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RACK TEETH AND SAID PAWL IS IN ENGAGEMENT THEREBETWEEN TO LOCK SAID HOUSING ON SAID GUIDE RACK AGAINST VERTICAL MOVEMENT THEREALONG, (I) SAID LEVER BEING MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID PAWL WHILE SAME IS LOCKING THE HOUSING ON SAID RACK, (J) SAID OTHER END OF SAID LEVER BEING SWINGABLE IN A FIRST DIRECTION ABOUT ITS CONNECTION WITH SAID HOUSING TO SLIDE SAID PAWL OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RACK TEETH AND TO SIMULTANEOUSLY SHIFT SAID TOOTH-LIKE PROJECTION ON SAID ONE END OF THE LEVER INTO ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE RACK TEETH, (K) SAID OTHER END OF SAID LEVER ALSO BEING SWINGABLE IN A SECOND DIRECTION ABOUT ITS CONNECTION WITH SAID HOUSING WHEN SAID TOOTH-LIKE PROJECTION ENGAGES BETWEEN SAID RACK TEETH TO MOVE THE HOUSING ALONG SAID RACK AND CHANGE THE HEIGHT OF SAID SHELF WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, AND (L) SAID OTHER END OF SAID LEVER BEING REVERSELY SWINGABLE IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION TO RESHIFT SAID TOOTH-LIKE PROJECTION OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RACK TEETH AND TO SIMULTANEOUSLY RESLIDE SAID PAWL BETWEEN SAID RACK TEETH FOR THEREAFTER RELOCKING SAID HOUSING UPON SAID RACK TO SUPPORT SAID SHELF AT SAID CHANGED HEIGHT. 